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Sheriff Norman issues warning to sex offenders during CC Fair season

The 2018 Cleveland County Fair is here. Every year during the county fair, there are a number of calls, questions and concerns regarding registered sex offenders being on Cleveland County Fairgrounds properties. Changes were made to the legislation concerning sex offender registration on September 1, 2016. Due to these changes, we wanted the public, as well as other agencies, to be informed as to which registered sex offenders are banned from being on Cleveland County Fairgrounds during the county fair.
Session Law 2016-102 House Bill 1021
Session Law 2016-102, House Bill 1021 - An Act to Amend the Law Regarding Sex Offenders on Certain Premises to Address the Ruling in Doe V. Cooper.
GS 14-208.18. Sex offender unlawfully on premises.
(Relevant portions set out below)
(a) It shall be unlawful for any person required to register under this Article, if the offense requiring registration is described in subsection (c) of this section (emphasis added), to knowingly be at any of the following locations:
(4) On the State Fairgrounds during the period of time each year that the State Fair is conducted, on the Western North Carolina Agricultural Center grounds during the period of time each year that the North Carolina Mountain State Fair is conducted, and on any other fairgrounds during the period of time that an agricultural fair is being conducted.
(c) The subdivisions of subsection (a) of this section are applicable as follows:
(1) Subdivisions (1), (3) and (4) of subsection (a) of this section apply to persons required
to be registered under this Article who have committed any of the following offenses:
(a) Any offense in Article 7B of this Chapter or any federal offense or offense committed in another state, which if committed in this State, is substantially similar to an offense in Article 7B of this Chapter.
(b) Any offense where the victim of the offense was under the age of 18 years at the time of the offense.
Cleveland County District Attorney Mike Miller has advised his office will prosecute any cases brought to them involving a registered sex offender found on the premises of the Cleveland County Fairgrounds in violation of G.S. 14-208.18. This includes parking lots used solely by the Cleveland County Fair.
If there are any questions, please contact Cleveland County Sheriff's Office at 704-484-4788
Submitted by Cleveland County Sheriff's Department


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